Train-control track element



March 3, 193%. P. x. RICE TRAIN CONTROL TRACK ELEMENT 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 23. 1929 N: ON a o qL Q.. Q M Q 8 mm Q m .H. E 0 m 3 a wm m U m. Fm N H 0 2w TOR Y M /AT'|:ORNEY March 3, 1931. P. x. RICE 1,794,543

TRAIN CONTROL TRACK ELEMENT Filed May 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV TDR. W14 BY Qfmmzv Patented Mar. 3, 19 31 uNiIsn STATES PHILIP x. RICE, or STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro ennnnnr. I I I COMPANY, ornoonnsrnn, NEW YORK PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SIGNAL TRAIN-CONTROL TRACK YELEMELITIT I Application filed m 23, 1929.. Serial mesasei.

This invention'relates in general to inductors as used in train control systems, and has more particular reference to an inductor for use in-an intermittent inductive alternating current type oftr'ain controlsystem, such as disclosed, for example, in the pending application of Philip X. Rice, Ser.No. 106,478 filed May3, 1-926, and in the-application of W. H. Reichard, Serial No. 358,577, filed April 27, 1929, and entitled Train control system. v

' Among the objects of this invention are to provide an improved inductor .which is rugged andcompact, simple in design, efficient and long lived in use, and cheap to manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improvedhousing for the inductor for snugly receiving and shielding the inductor cores and coils, condensers, etc.,so as to permit'of effectually protecting all'such parts from theweather. I I

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of the invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing, solely by way of example,"and in no manner in a limiting. sense, one'formwhich the inventi-on can assume. In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an inductor core and coil structure in detail, in accordance with this invention, and showing in a wholly diagrammatic mannerthe electrical connections associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofan inductor per se, in accordance with this invention.

1 Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the inductor of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, to an enlarged scale, on line 414 of Fig. 73, viewed in the direction of the arrows. I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, with parts shown in elevation, and to an enlarged scale, .on lines 5-5 of Fig.3, viewed in theidirection of the arrows. i

' Referring now to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, there is here shown a stretch of track constitutedby track rails 1 divided by insulating joints 2 into twosignal blocks, each block having a source of electrical energy 3 connected across its exit'end, anda track relay TR connected across its entrance end, traffic being in the direction-of the arrow. Represented by wheels and axles 4 is a car on the stretch of track.

' The coreand coil structure of an inductor in accordance with this invention" is shown in considerable detail in Fig. '1. For the sake of clearness, the core of theinductor is shown positioned to oneside of the track rails, althoughin practice, it is placed 'betweenthe track rails, as shown in above mentioned Reichard application. From this figure it is seenthat the core C is'in the generalform of 8, withtwo loop portions having substantially parallel sides 56sand 78, with a neck 9 interconnecting the loop portions, and an extending arm 10 and 11 extending beyond the outer end of each loop portion.

I A coil 12 is carried onthe neck portion 9 or the core (land end coils 13 and 14 are carried, respectively, on the arms 10 and 11.

The coil 12 has a tuning condenser 18 0011- nected across it, and is connected up in a series circuit including tuning condenser 15, contact finger and front point 16 of a line relay LR controlled by track relay TR and the track relay (notsh'own for the block immediately in advance, and tuning inductance whereby coil' 12 is controlled by traffic conditions ahead either to choke or to vnot choke the intermediate portion of the inductor according'as armature 16 is attracted or retracted, corresponding to clear, or caud d nger conditions, respectively.

This c'ontrolis the same as described in detail in the applications above referred to, and requires no further comment in this case.

The coils 13 and 14 are connected in'series', together with a tuning condenser 19, by way of a jumper 20, so'that theynormally act to choke the ends of the inductor core regard less of trafiicconditions, but can be subjected to traffic control by the removal of the j umper 20, wherebyto place them under con- ,trolof contact'finger 21 and front point of relay TR,- all as described ingreater detail in the above re ferred toapplication of. Reichard.. '1"

The acor ep-C is" made up of a number of stamped, or otherwise formed, laminations, which are piled together to make a substantially straight bar in vertical projection. The center part of this bar is then taped, as at 22, to hold the laminations together, after which coil 12 is wound .thereon or is form wound and slipped thereon. Then the laminations on each side of the tape 22 are di vided and separated, as shown in Fig. 1, and a spacer 23 of wood or other material (Fig. 5), is inserted between the parallel .arm 56 and 7 8 to hold the laminations in proper position. The ends of the two arms tormi-i-i-g each loop are then brought together and taped to constitute the extending arms 10 and 11, after which coils 13 and 14 are wound thereon or form wound and slipped thereon, as the case may be.

The above described method for forming the core and coil structureot this invention has been found very savingv of time and labor, and permitsmaking a core structure of the shape shown without using an undue amount of transformer iron therein.

In order to widen the upper horizontal surfacesof the arms :56 and 78, overhanging core portions are used, constituted by, in each case, .a plurality of Z shaped laminations .24, which are stacked asshown in Figs. 1 and .5, and held inplace, preferably, by means oi the receiving casing for the core, to be described in detail below. The function of these overhanging portions is brought out, in detail, in the Reichard application, referred to above. Briefly, they make for a more certain cooperation with the car-carried receiver in the train control system in which this inductor is intended to be used.

Referring now to the other figures of .the drawings, it will be seen in. Fig. 3 that the core C has a generallyinverted U-shape inside elevation with the arms 10 and 11 down wardly inclined to form a bridge effect. From Fig. 3 it is also seen that the neck 9 of the core is downwardly bent where it receives the coil 12 in order to position the upper edge of this coil well below the horizontal upper faces oi the arms 5-6 etc. In a like manner \the lamina'tions are formed with notches in their 'upper'faces, at the points where the coils 13and 14 are'received, whereby to likewise position these coils well below the horizontal plane of the top faces of the arms 56 etc. so as to avoid any rubbing or wearing of the coils V The core and coil structures together with the condensers, as described above, are all snugly received in a casing of wood or other suitable material formed in two sections, 25 and 26, divided longitudinally of the length of the inductor, with the two parts of the casing firmlyclamped together by means of boltsor the like 27. The two parts .25 and 26 of the wooden casing h ave various mat chingcut-out portions for receiving the core and coil structure and condensers, all as shown most clearly in Figs. 35 inclusive. It is seen that the condensers 18 and 19 are positioned in the wooden casing beneath the parallel arms 7 8 of the core, while the condenser is positioned within the wooden casing underneath the parallel arms 56 of the core, to thereby make a rugged and compact structure.

Cut-out portions, .as 28,-(Fig. 5') are provided for passage of the various wires involved.

After the various parts have been placed in the wooden casing, and the casing securely clamped together, a metal outer casing 29, having top portion and twoside portions, is placed about the whole, and bolted in place as by bolts 30. A junction box, JB, is bolted to the casing 29, at one side thereof, and has an inlet opening 31 for wires connected to ter minal posts 32, which wires then pass through an opening 83, in one of the members constitutingthe wooden casing, to then pass to the various coils and condensers through channels such as28 provided in the wooden casing.

The two parts and 26 of the wooden casing are additionally held inproper position, and protected from the weather, by a nonmagnetic metal plate 34% which is inserted in grooves 35 in the members 25 and26 and then i screwed or otherwise fastened to each of these members.

End supports or boots 36 are fastened to the ends of the .casing, .as by means of bolts 37,

and are formed with .downwardly inclined ramp faces 38 :to aid in preventing any mechanical disturbance :of the inductor from its proper position, the boots being connected to ties39 by screws or the like 40.

The boots 36 and housing 29 :are provided with slots 41 for preventing electrical losses .d-ueto eddy currents.

In. order that the inductor be thoroughly protected against m-oisture,.the inner faces of the metalcasing 29 and boots 86 are provided with weather proof and insulating linings.

The woodencasing formed by the members 25 and 26 is thoroughly impregnated, in any usual or desired manner, to protect them against the weather, andall openings between the core and coil and condenser structures and the receiving casing, are filled with suitable compound whereby to make a rigid and weather proof structure.

The above rather specific description of one form of device embodying the present invention, has been given solely by way of illustration, and isnct intended, in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. invention can assume many different physical forms, andis susceptible: of numerous modifications, and all such forms and modifications are includedby this invention, as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Obviously, this laminated core in the general form of an 8,

with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8, and a projecting arm extending from eachloop and in line with the neck, a control coil on each arm and the neck, condensers connected to the various coils, and a longitudinally divided two part casing clamped together and furnished with complementary '7 tion with the condensers positioned within i tive train control s stems in combination a V I a 9 7 cut-out portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers.

2. In an inductor for intermittent inductive train control systems, in combination, a laminated core in the general form or" an 8, with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8, and a projecting arm extending from each loop and in line with the neck, a control coil on each arm and on the neck, spacers within each loop to hold the core portions in looped position, the neck and arms being taped to hold the laminae together, condensers connected to the various coils, and a'lon'gitudinally divided two part casing clamped together and furnished with complementary cut-out portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers. i

3. In an inductor for intermittent inductive train control systems, in combination, a laminated core in the general form of an 3, with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8, and a projecting arm extending from each loop in line with the neck, a control 0011 on each arm and the neck, condensers connected to the various coils, and a longitudinally divided two part casing clamped together and furnished with complementary cut-out portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers, the core having its arms downwardly inclined to form an inverted U-shaped core in longitudinal elevation, with the condensers positioned with in the U.

4. In an inductor for intermittent inductive train control systems, in combination, a laminated core in the generalform of an 8 with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8, and a projecting arm extending from each loop and in line with the neck, a control coil on each arm and on the neck, spacers within each loop to hold the core portions in looped position, the neck and arms being taped to hold the laminae together, condensers connected to the various coils, and a longitudinally divided two part casing clamped together and furnished with complementary cut-lout portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers, the'oore having its arms downwardly inclined to for'm an inverted U-shapedcore in longitudinal elevathe U.

5. In an inductor for intermittent induclaminated core in the general form of an 8, witha central neck-interconnecting the loops of the 8 and a projecting arm extending; from each loop in line with the-neck, a control coil on each arm and on the neck, condensers connected to the various coils,a longitudinally divided two part casing clampedtogether and furnished with complementary cut-out portionstor receiving the core, coils and condensers, tl1e core having its arms downwardly inclined to forman inverted U-shaped core in longitudinal elevation, the condensers beingipositioned Within the U, a non-magnetic metal'liccasing inclosing the two part casing and its contained parts, and ramp shaped ends onthe casing, substantially paralleling said'downwardly.inclined arms.

6. In aninductor for intermittent inductive train control systems, in combination, a laminated core in the general form of an 8 with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8 and a projecting arm extending from each loop in line with the neck, a control coil on each arm and on the neck, spacers between the sides of each loop to'hold the core po'rtions in looped position, the neck and arms being taped together to hold the laminae in place, condensers connected to the various coils, a longitudinally divided two part casing clamped together and furnished with complementary cut-out portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers, the core having its arms downwardly inclined to form an inverted U-shaped core in longitudinal elevation with the condensers. positioned within the U, a non-magnetic metallic casing enclosing the two-part casing and its contained parts, and ramp shaped ends in the casing substantially paralleling said downwardly inclined arms.

7. In an inductor for intermittent inductive train control systems, in combina tion,a laminated core in the general form of an 8, *with a central neck interconnecting the loops of the 8 and a projecting with the neck, acontrol coil on each armand the neck, spacers within each loop to hold the core portions in'looped position, the neck and arms being taped to hold the laminae together, condensers connected to the various coils, a longitudinally divided two part casing arm extending from each loop and in line clamped together and furnished with complementary cut-out portions for receiving the core, coils and condensers, the core having its arms downwardly inclined to form an in-.- verted U-shapedcore in longitudinal eleva-' tion withthe condensers positioned within the U, a non-magnetic metallic casing enclosing the two-part casing and its contained parts, and ramp shaped ends on the 9 casing substantially paralleling said downwardly inclined arms, said core, at the points where the coils are carried, being down-s wardly curved to position the tops of the 5 coils Well belowthe top of the core part forming the base of said 1U whereby to provide clearance between coils and metallic .casin-g.

8. In :a train-control system, a Wayside inductorinclud-ing, in combination, an elongatedcore, an intermediate and tWo end coils on the core, a circuit including the two end coils in series, a second circuit including the intermediate :coil, traflic controlled means for controlling each of saidcircuits, and a jum er'insertable in position to shunt out the tra 0 control from the circuit including the two end coils, whereby to choke ofi the ends of :the .core regardless of trafiic conditions.

9. In a train control system, in combination, a wayside inductor including a core, a plurality of spaced coils on the'core, a circuit including one of the coils, a second circuit including another of the coils, trafiic controlled means for controlling each of said circuits,

and a jumper insertable in position to shunt out the .trafiic control from the circuit including one of said coils whereby to choke oii that :portion of'the core on which is positioned the 5 shunted :outcoil regardless of trafiic condi- :tions.

Intestimony whereof I .aifix my signature.

.PI-IILIP X. RICE. 

